The Bavarian-Serbian Academic Forum (BSAF) was founded in late 2018 and officially registered on Vidovdan 2019 in Munich. The registration was signed by seven founders wishing to establish an association bringing together all those who assign crucial importance to the Serbian identity and the promotion of our nation’s true values. Aleksandar Naum is the initiator and first president of the BSAF.

The Bavarian-Serbian Academic Forum (BSAF) was founded with the aim of connecting the academic and professional community of Serbian origin in Bavaria, promoting cooperation between Serbian and German institutions, preserving and presenting Serbian culture, language and scientific achievements. The main focus is on strengthening academic, spiritual, business and social ties, as well as providing support to young experts and students in their professional development.

– We organized three Wine Evenings events titled Days of Serbian Culture in Bavaria, to present Serbian wines, brandy, food and music from different parts of Serbia to the Serbian diaspora and local population at the highest level. We prevailed in our fight for naming Mileva Marić-Einstein Street in Heidelberg, one of the most important academic centers in Germany. There is also the organization of workshops in Serbian for children aged two to eight. The reforestation of the so-called Zmaj Forests in Bavaria is one of the mass actions in which our children gladly participated. We supported the actions of the humanitarian organization Serbs for Serbs, donated part of the funds for the installation of benches in the chapel for Serbian prisoners of war in Mauthausen, as well as for the installation of the Serbian Rooster memorial on the border between Austria and Germany. I would like to highlight especially the program of support for students and young experts through the established network of mentors and advisors helping students and young experts in their academic and business development. It is noteworthy that BSAF has the status of a non-profit organization in Germany, which entitles donors to a refund of part of the taxes on donations paid – says Srđan Matejević, vice president and one of the founders of BSAF.

Today, BSAF has 26 active members, including researchers, engineers, doctors, lawyers, students, writers, entrepreneurs and experts from various sectors of the economy. In addition to these 26 active members, there are about 150 supporters, implementers and beneficiaries in the implementation of various programs. The current president, Vladimir Vanja Nikolić, was entrusted with heading the Forum for a renewed two-year period.

Source: VESTI online

Photo: B. Miličić